Pakistan Crypto Council

Regulation, Blockchain & Cryptocurrency Adoption in Pakistan

What is the Pakistan Crypto Council (PCC)?

The Pakistan Crypto Council (PCC) is the official advisory and regulatory initiative formed under the Ministry of Finance to guide Pakistan’s journey into cryptocurrency, blockchain technology, and digital assets.

PCC works in collaboration with:

State Bank of Pakistan (SBP)
Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP)
Ministry of IT & Telecom
International partners for FATF compliance

The council’s mission is to balance innovation and regulation, ensuring investor protection, financial inclusion, and economic growth through blockchain.

Why Pakistan Needs PCC

Pakistan ranks among the top 10 countries globally for crypto adoption, with over 20–27 million users.
Lack of clear legal framework has left investors vulnerable to scams and fraud.
International compliance requirements (AML, CFT, FATF) demand structured regulation.
Growing youth and freelance economy rely on Bitcoin, Ethereum, and stablecoins for payments and remittances.
The Council is also guiding the future of digital assets and innovation. To understand how Pakistan’s crypto journey is shaping up, read our guide on The Future of Cryptocurrency in Pakistan.

PCC’s Core Objectives

Regulatory Frameworks for Virtual Assets

Define and regulate Virtual Asset Service Providers (VASPs)
Licensing requirements for crypto exchanges & wallets
AML/CFT & KYC compliance rules

Promoting Blockchain Innovation

Encourage DeFi, NFTs, tokenization projects
Pilot programs in land registries, supply chain, education & healthcare
Develop a regulatory sandbox for blockchain startups

Safeguarding Investors

Guidelines for safe investing
Crackdown on crypto scams & fraud
Surrogate advertising ban on unlicensed crypto exchanges

Global Alignment

Benchmarking with UAE, Turkey, India
Aligning with FATF international crypto standards
Exploring a Digital Assets Authority for supervision

Current Legal Status of Cryptocurrency in Pakistan

Legal Status for Crypto	SBP has not recognized digital currencies as of mid-2025. There is a movement towards regulation, rather than an outright ban.
Technical Committee	PCC decided to create a technical committee that would include SBP, SECP and law & IT Ministries to draft a framework on digital and virtual assets.
Electricity Allocation & Mining	It is proposed to use surplus power (2000MW) in Bitcoin mining, artificial intelligence and data centres. This raises questions about Energy Policy and Environmental Impact.
Adoption Metrics	Pakistan has between 20-27 million crypto users. The key factors are the increasing penetration of mobile/internet and youth demographics. PCC estimates and statements place Pakistan as one of the top countries in terms of crypto adoption.

Crypto Adoption in Pakistan

Usage Trends

Bitcoin, Ethereum, stablecoins are popular for hedging against inflation.
Freelancers & IT exports rely on stablecoins for cross-border payments.
Remittances via crypto are increasing due to lower fees.

Demographics

Driven by youth (Gen Z, millennials) and digital freelancers.
Pakistan has one of the highest P2P trading volumes in Asia.

Key Challenges for PCC

Regulatory ambiguity – lack of clear law defining crypto.
Investor risks – volatility, scams, and lack of awareness.
Energy concerns – Bitcoin mining proposals linked to surplus electricity allocation.
Compliance – need to align with FATF and global standards.

PCC’s Roadmap

Establish Technical Committee (SBP, SECP, Finance, IT ministries).
Propose crypto taxation framework.
Draft Digital Asset Authority Bill.
Introduce blockchain pilot projects in fintech and governance.
Launch public awareness campaigns about safe investing.

How Citizens & Businesses Can Engage

For Investors:
- Use trusted wallets and licensed exchanges.
- Learn how to avoid scams.
- Stay updated on PCC announcements.
For Businesses:
- Apply for licenses when framework launches.
- Participate in blockchain sandboxes.
- Collaborate with PCC on policy feedback.